The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-10-20
Locomotive Engineer

CHICAGO, Oct. 19.-The twenty
fourth annual grand international con-
vention of the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Engineers opened in Central Mu-
sic hall at 80 this afternoon with del
egates present from all parts of the
Union. Mayor Roche welcomed the
delegates on behalf of the city in a
short address. The chief topic of the
afternoon was the annual address of
Grand Grief Engineer 2. M. Arthur,
who in substance spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen:
After lapse of nineteen years, agreea-
bly, to the expressed will of our organic
zation, the brotherhood of locomotive
engineers is again permitted TO greet
the good people of the great city OF the
lakes. Perhaps some of our coming in
convention to your city will be the only
grand meeting of another army of
fanatic laborers, but we believe to most
of the people and certainly to the read
ing public we are known as an organi-
cation of honest men; having honest
intentions, which we ever have and
will ever execute in a Straightforward,
honest manner. We are enemies only
to wrong in its various devices and
garbs, and can assuredly say that all
political schemes and aspirations have
no place nor part in our aSSO-
citation. A mighty army of men
representing three hundred and sixty
five divisions has gathered about nu-
cleuS of twelve men who, tWenty-f0ur
years ago, assembled in the city of De-
troit and started an organization des-
tined to be more than they then knew
or dreamed. To-day we number %, GOO
men, and while our numbers are great
we would not have you consider only
quantity but quality as well: 10 be the
brotherhood of man four things are re-
quired, namely: Sobriety, truth justice
and morality. This is our motto and
upon this precept have we based our
we deemed it best to slightly
change our plan of insur-
ance so as to bring it within
the reach of all. We now claim to
have the cheapest and best, most
satisfactory insurance in existence.
| We have paid out during the fiscal
year just closed, to widows and orphans
$259, 500, making total of So, pa 1853 )
81 that we have paid since the organ
1867. At the close of the last fiscal
year we had 4, IA members; died
during the year n; disabled IL:
forfeited 1873; and we had on September
| 1st 6 ,287, showing a net gain OF ,S43.
| Our journals circulation has now
reached 2, 600, from which we derive
a revenue of S8, 922,84 per year
/ During the year our chief executive
| travelled over SO, 600 miles of territory
adjusting grievances. and attending
union meetings. Taking all thing:
| into consideration our relations, boil
to ourselves and with the various rail
roads employing brotherhood men, arr
amicable when we consider the dis
satisfaction which is every
where manifest about us-almos
surrounds us-few troubles pale int(
insignificance. The spirit of discon
tent walks unchallenged from ocean tt
ocean across our broad continent whis
pering greedily into the ears of men
more, more. So the ;Gry is taken Ill
and repeated until it becomes deaf
ening roar. 1t is a short stride from
word to deed and every day in on
papers we may read the result OF thi
discomfort. Labor of all kinds from
most mental to most skilled with tina
CRY still ringing in their ears Will
their Judgment sleeps, has risen up an
refused to work preferring no pay t
: little nav and with what result
defeat, disaster and despair.
There have been times and incident
where q strike was only court of ar
peals for Workngman, and the evil la
J in the abuse of them and not in the us
of them. The methods used to brin
7 about successful termination of tn
strikes, the abuse of property and eve
of persons, has brought the name int
disrepute while the troubles of tn
) labOring men are rapidly receiving mel
/ cant, and sympathy for him is dyin